If you're going to carry cameras or expensive souvenirs in the city, be aware in crowded areas and never leave items exposed. RELATED LINKS City Guide Rome

Bands of child pickpockets have been a persistent annoyance in Rome over the years, and tourists are prime targets for their distract-and-grab tactics. Watch out for groups of children in scruffy clothing, often accompanied by a young woman nursing a baby.

Typically they'll hold a piece of cardboard or some other object in front of the victim's face while skilled hands reach for wallets, cameras or anything else they can snatch. Fanny packs, dangling purses, and billfolds in back pockets are particularly vulnerable, and anything on your person is fair game on a crowded bus or train.

Avoidance is your best tactic, but don't be afraid to shout and shove if you find yourself surrounded — the commotion is likely to scare the thieves off and bring assistance from passers-by.